Weary Willie Day

Weary Willie Day is on December 9th in the United States. It’s a special day to celebrate the birth of the clown that initially did not find recognition among people.

History

Weary Willie was created by circus performer Emmett Kelly, inspired by his encounters with vagabonds. His clown had an extremely sad look – his inverted smile exuded an air of sadness. This image initially met with resistance from circuses, which refused to showcase him as he didn’t meet conventional standards. However, during the Great Depression, the image of Willie personified the face of an entire nation, appearing in shabby clothes, unshaven, and terribly sad. People recognized him and made him a real icon. Kelly passed away, but his character continued to live and bring joy with his unique persona. His son continued the legacy, playing the clown until his death.

Interesting Facts

• The word “clown” in America appeared in 1560 and was interpreted as “rude”.
• In 2016, the US experienced a surge of clown sightings, leading to a year dubbed as the “year of clown fear”.
• Joseph Grimaldi is considered the very first and most popular clown.
• Traditional clown makeup allows performers to more clearly designate facial expressions.
• Pennywise is considered the scariest clown character in many polls.
• According to some studies, one in three people suffer from coulrophobia (fear of clowns).

How to Take Part

If you’d like to join in on the celebration, there are plenty of ways to do so. Go to a circus performance and watch the clown at work – observe how he moves, how he causes laughter, and what emotions he experiences. Show appreciation at the end of the show by giving the clown flowers or a delicious gift. You can also watch movies related to the holiday’s theme.

When is Weary Willie Day in 2024?

Weary Willie Day is observed on December 9 each year.

Observations